GLAAD - Senator Harry Reidhttp://www.glaad.org/tags/senator-harry-reid
enThe Employment Non-Discrimination Act may reach the senate floor by Thanksgivinghttp://www.glaad.org/blog/employment-non-discrimination-act-may-reach-senate-floor-thanksgiving
<div class="field field-name-field-blog-featured field-type-file field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><span id="styles-0-0" class="styles file-styles 750px"> <img src="http://www.glaad.org/sites/default/files/styles/750px/public/Harr%20Reid.jpg?itok=IjrY0k0Q" alt="" title="" /></span></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><p>Majority Leader Harry Reid says he will be bringing legislation banning anti-LGBT employment discrimination to the floor before Thanksgiving. The Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) was passed out of the Senate’s Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee with bipartisan support earlier this year. In order for the bill to pass it must have at least 60 votes to prevent a filibuster or any other opposition. Advocates of the bill are optimistic that they will have the votes by the time the bill reaches the floor of the Senate.</p>
<blockquote><p>Sen. Jeff Merkley, the Senate’s lead sponsor of the legislation, told BuzzFeed, “I thank Majority Leader Reid for committing to bring ENDA to the floor this work period. Americans understand that it’s time to make sure our LGBT friends and family are treated fairly and have the same opportunities. Now it’s time for our laws to catch up. People should be judged at work on their ability to do the job, period.”</p>
</blockquote>
<p><a href="http://www.buzzfeed.com/chrisgeidner/lgbt-job-discrimination-ban-to-get-senate-floor-consideratio">BuzzFeed.com</a> has more on the story.</p>
<p>Senator Reid tweeted his support for marriage equality with the following tweet. </p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>Gays and lesbians should not be fired from their jobs just for being themselves. Senate will soon work to <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23PassENDA&amp;src=hash">#PassENDA</a>. <a href="http://t.co/Jfz66EdWXK">pic.twitter.com/Jfz66EdWXK</a></p>
<p>— Senator Harry Reid (@SenatorReid) <a href="https://twitter.com/SenatorReid/statuses/394887854511243264">October 28, 2013</a></p></blockquote>
<script async="" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-pubdate field-type-datetime field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><span class="date-display-single">October 28, 2013</span></div></div></div>
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<div class="field-label">Issues:&nbsp;</div>
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<li class="field-item even"><a href="/issues/news">News</a>, </li>
<li class="field-item odd"><a href="/issues/local-and-regional-news">Local and Regional News</a>, </li>
<li class="field-item even"><a href="/issues/transgender">Transgender</a></li>
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<li class="field-item even"><a href="/tags/enda">ENDA</a>, </li>
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Mon, 28 Oct 2013 17:31:03 +0000nicholascoppola68788 at http://www.glaad.orghttp://www.glaad.org/blog/employment-non-discrimination-act-may-reach-senate-floor-thanksgiving#commentsSenate Votes to Repeal 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell'http://www.glaad.org/2010/12/18/senate-votes-to-repeal-dont-ask-dont-tell
<div class="field field-name-field-blog-featured field-type-file field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"></div></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><div style="width: 310px;float:left;"><a href="http://glaadblog.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/Final-DADT-VOTE.png"><img class="size-medium wp-image-30171 " title="Final DADT VOTE" src="http://glaadblog.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/Final-DADT-VOTE-300x203.png" alt="" width="300" height="203" /></a>
<p>In 65-31 vote, Senate moves in favor of DADT repeal</p>
</div>
<p>After 17 years and more than <a href="http://www.sldn.org/pages/about-dadt">14,000 discharges</a>, the United States Senate voted today to begin repeal of the military’s ban on openly gay, lesbian and bisexual service members.</p>
<p><a href="../../../../../2010/12/18/glaad-applauds-senate-vote-on-dadt-repeal-bill/">Just hours after a vote invoking cloture</a>, the <a href="http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5izy09B7onC9mYsGf_Mc09NdfzREw?docId=3c6ed84d169a4590879a054a54267c6d" target="_blank">Senate approved a bill that aims to overturn the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” law</a>. The legislation will now go to the White House for the President’s signature.</p>
<p>According to <a href="http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-pn-senate-gays-20101219,0,4926811.story">The Los Angeles Times,</a> “Once the measure becomes law, Obama and military chiefs will have to certify that the change wouldn't hurt the ability of troops to fight and there would also be a 60-day waiting period. The actual elimination of ‘don't ask, don't tell,’ which dates back to the Clinton administration, could take as long as a year.”</p>
<p>Democratic <a href="http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/12/reid-suspend-dadt-discharges-now.php">Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) indicated</a>, however, that he would be in favor of ending all DADT-related investigations immediately. That decision will ultimately be left to the President and Defense Secretary Robert Gates.</p>
<p>"To deny brave men and women the ability to serve their country openly and honestly is to reject the fundamental American principles of fairness and equality for all," said GLAAD President Jarrett Barrios. "Today’s vote, a reflection of the overwhelming majority of Americans who support the repeal, moves us one step closer to ending a ban which undermines our national security and has resulted in the loss of critical and skilled service members."</p>
<div style="width: 310px;float:right;"><a href="http://glaadblog.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/Bustos-ABC.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-30170" title="Bustos ABC" src="http://glaadblog.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/Bustos-ABC-300x246.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="246" /></a>
<p>Sgt. Anthony Bustos comes out on ABC World News</p>
</div>
<p>Sergeant Anthony Bustos, <a href="http://www.glaad.org/page.aspx?pid=1515">who worked with GLAAD earlier this year to share his story on ABC News</a>, also reflected on today’s vote:</p>
<p>“As I heard the final vote count, relief swept over me and I felt like my eight years of service and sacrifice had finally been validated. Today's vote will not only strengthen our national security, it will also strengthen our nation's integrity."</p>
<p>Sergeant Bustos was discharged just last week under DADT.</p>
<p>Today, GLAAD is encouraging mainstream media to spotlight the stories of brave gay and lesbian people in uniform who are at the heart of today’s victory. GLAAD has camera-ready spokespeople and service members ready to speak on this issue.</p>
</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-pubdate field-type-datetime field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><span class="date-display-single">December 18, 2010</span></div></div></div>
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<div class="field-label">Issues:&nbsp;</div>
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<li class="field-item even"><a href="/issues/news">News</a></li>
<li class="field-item odd"><a href="/issues/news">News</a></li>
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<div class="field-label">Tags:&nbsp;</div>
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<li class="field-item even"><a href="/tags/dont-ask-dont-tell-dadt">Don&#039;t Ask Don&#039;t Tell (DADT)</a>, </li>
<li class="field-item odd"><a href="/tags/military">military</a>, </li>
<li class="field-item even"><a href="/tags/robert-gates">Robert Gates</a>, </li>
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Wed, 14 Sep 2011 20:19:08 +0000Seth33513 at http://www.glaad.orghttp://www.glaad.org/2010/12/18/senate-votes-to-repeal-dont-ask-dont-tell#commentsSeveral Indications DADT Repeal Still On Trackhttp://www.glaad.org/2010/11/18/several-indications-dadt-repeal-still-on-track
<div class="field field-name-field-blog-featured field-type-file field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"></div></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><p><a href="http://glaadblog.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/u.s.-army.jpg"><img class="alignleft size-full wp-image-27505" title="u.s. army" src="http://glaadblog.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/u.s.-army.jpg" alt="" width="147" height="107" /></a>There were a couple of scares this week - signs that maybe the lame duck session of Congress wouldn't be considering language in the Defense Authorization bill that would allow for the repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell. According to the <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/11/15/AR2010111506913.html" target="_blank">Washington Post</a>:</p>
<blockquote><p>Three groups that support lifting the ban - the Palm Center at the University of California at Santa Barbara, OutServe and Knights Out - said Monday that lawmakers should pass the defense bill whether or not it includes language ending "don't ask, don't tell."</p></blockquote>
<p><a href="http://glaadblog.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/Carl-Levin.jpg"><img class="alignright size-full wp-image-29041" title="Carl Levin" src="http://glaadblog.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/Carl-Levin.jpg" alt="" width="135" height="165" /></a>Then, Senate Armed Services Committee chairman Carl Levin confirmed what had <a href="http://gay.americablog.com/2010/11/democrats-reportedly-looking-at.html" target="_blank">previously been rumored</a> - that he was considering stripping the language that would allow for the repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell <a href="http://thecable.foreignpolicy.com/posts/2010/11/16/levin_we_may_have_to_separate_dadt_from_defense_bill" target="_blank">out of the measure</a>.</p>
<p>All signs seemed to point to a big disappointment in the works. But on Wednesday, spokespeople for Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and the White House attempted to reassure advocates for open service. President Obama reportedly called Sen. Levin, and asked that the language not be removed from the Defense Authorization bill. And Senator Reid said<em> instead</em> of dropping the DADT language, what will be dropped is the <a href="http://dreamact.info/students" target="_blank">DREAM Act </a>- an amendment which would give conditional permanent residency to undocumented students - if they complete two years in the military or two years at a four year institution of higher learning. <a href="http://advocate.com/News/Daily_News/2010/11/17/Reid_Commits_To_DADT_Vote/" target="_blank">The Advocate reports</a> that concerns about "poison pill" or "message" amendments won't be as big, now that election season is over:</p>
<blockquote><p><a href="http://glaadblog.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/Mark-Udall.jpg"><img class="alignleft size-full wp-image-29042" title="Mark Udall" src="http://glaadblog.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/Mark-Udall.jpg" alt="" width="125" height="164" /></a>“If the sticking point is that the Republicans want an opportunity to offer amendments and they feel like they weren’t given that opportunity before the election, I have no problem with a more open amendment process,” Colorado senator Mark Udall, who sits on the Senate Armed Services Committee, told <em>The Advocate </em>earlier this week<em>.</em></p>
<p>Udall added that there might be less fear of amendments merely being used as political weapons now that the midterm election is over.</p>
<p>“There were concerns on both sides that there would be message amendments and amendments to make one party or the other look bad because the election was looming,” he said. “It seems like we could move beyond that and we could really focus on policy debates.”</p></blockquote>
<p>As we get closer to a potential vote, we urge the media to continue to highlight the stories of men and women who are denied the chance to serve their country simply because of who they are. We also encourage the media to continue to highlight the fact that Americans overwhelmingly support lifting the ban on gay and lesbian troops serving openly.</p>
</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-pubdate field-type-datetime field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><span class="date-display-single">November 18, 2010</span></div></div></div>
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<div class="field field-name-field-tags field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-inline clearfix clearfix">
<div class="field-label">Tags:&nbsp;</div>
<ul class="field-items">
<li class="field-item even"><a href="/tags/dont-ask-dont-tell-dadt">Don&#039;t Ask Don&#039;t Tell (DADT)</a>, </li>
<li class="field-item odd"><a href="/tags/military">military</a>, </li>
<li class="field-item even"><a href="/tags/president-obama">President Obama</a>, </li>
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Wed, 14 Sep 2011 20:19:00 +0000aaronmcquade33435 at http://www.glaad.orghttp://www.glaad.org/2010/11/18/several-indications-dadt-repeal-still-on-track#comments"Don't Ask, Don't Tell" Disappointment http://www.glaad.org/2010/09/21/dont-ask-dont-tell-disappointment
<div class="field field-name-field-blog-featured field-type-file field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"></div></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><p><a href="http://glaadblog.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/Flag-Salute.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-26105 alignleft" title="Flag Salute" src="http://glaadblog.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/Flag-Salute-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a>Supporters of allowing gay, lesbian and bisexual troops to serve openly could only muster <a href="http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=111&amp;session=2&amp;vote=00238" target="_blank">56 of the 60 votes</a> they needed to move forward on repealing the military's "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" law. </p>
<!--more--><p>All of the Senate's Republicans were joined by Democrats Blanche Lincoln, Mark Pryor, and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (although Reid himself was a strong supporter of the measure that would have allowed the Pentagon to lift the ban on openly gay service - he voted no, so that under Senate rules, <a href="http://joemygod.blogspot.com/2010/09/dadt-cloture-vote-fails-in-senate-56-43.html" target="_blank">he'll be able to reintroduce it later</a>.)</p>
<p><a href="http://www.glaad.org/releases/092110dadt" target="_blank">GLAAD is urging the media</a> to shine a light on the stories of the men and women who are harmed by this discriminatory policy. "The current filibuster ignores the fact that an overwhelming majority of Americans support repealing this law which puts our country at risk by continuing to dismiss vital service members," said GLAAD President Jarrett Barrios.</p>
<p>"We urge media to focus on the stories of the brave gay and lesbian service members who serve with distinction along with the latest opinion research that shows a majority of Americans favor repealing the law. As Americans hear the stories of gay and lesbian troops, an overwhelming number have sided with equality. It's time for our lawmakers to listen to their constituents and the brave men and women who, despite their patriotism and service, are dismissed simply for being who they are."</p>
<p>Servicemembers Legal Defense Network executive director (and military veteran) <a href="http://www.sldn.org/news/archives/sldn-statement-on-the-u.s.-senates-failure-to-break-filibuster-and-rep/" target="_blank">Aubrey Sarvis</a> said "Let’s be clear: Opponents to repealing ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ did not have the votes to strike those provisions from the bill. Instead, they had the votes for delay. Time is the enemy here. We now have no choice but to look to the lame duck session where we’ll have a slim shot. The Senate absolutely must schedule a vote in December when cooler heads and common sense are more likely to prevail once midterm elections are behind us. Servicemembers Legal Defense Network will continue to take this fight to the American people, the vast majority of whom support repeal of ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.’”</p>
</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-pubdate field-type-datetime field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><span class="date-display-single">September 21, 2010</span></div></div></div>
<div class="field field-name-field-issues field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-inline clearfix clearfix">
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<li class="field-item even"><a href="/issues/news">News</a></li>
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<div class="field-label">Tags:&nbsp;</div>
<ul class="field-items">
<li class="field-item even"><a href="/tags/dont-ask-dont-tell-dadt">Don&#039;t Ask Don&#039;t Tell (DADT)</a>, </li>
<li class="field-item odd"><a href="/tags/military">military</a>, </li>
<li class="field-item even"><a href="/tags/senator-harry-reid">Senator Harry Reid</a>, </li>
<li class="field-item odd"><a href="/tags/servicemembers-legal-defense-network">Servicemembers Legal Defense Network</a></li>
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Wed, 14 Sep 2011 20:18:41 +0000herndon33252 at http://www.glaad.orghttp://www.glaad.org/2010/09/21/dont-ask-dont-tell-disappointment#commentsSen. Majority Leader Pens Letter to President Advocating Repeal of DADT; Pentagon Publishes Its Own Critiquehttp://www.glaad.org/2009/10/02/sen-majority-leader-pens-letter-to-president-advocating-repeal-of-dadt-pentagon-publishes-its-own-critique
<div class="field field-name-field-blog-featured field-type-file field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"></div></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><p><a href="http://glaadblog.org/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/rsz_harryreid.jpg"><img class="alignleft size-full wp-image-13946" title="rsz_harryreid" src="http://glaadblog.org/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/rsz_harryreid.jpg" alt="rsz_harryreid" width="250" height="160" /></a>Democratic Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) has asked the president to bring recommendations on Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell to congress <a href="http://www.politico.com/static/PPM138_091001_reid.html">in a letter dated Sept. 24</a>, <em><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/10/01/reid-appeals-directly-to_n_305784.html" target="_blank">The Huffington Post </a></em><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/10/01/reid-appeals-directly-to_n_305784.html" target="_blank">reported on Thursday.</a></p>
<p>Reid, who supports the repeal of DADT, stressed that barring LGB people from serving openly in the military critically weakens our nation’s forces during a time of war:</p>
<blockquote><p>It has become clear that a number of individuals with skills essential to winning our struggle against terrorism and the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan – such as Arabic linguists and intelligence analysts—have been forced to leave the Armed Forces as a result of the current policy. At a time when we are fighting two wars, I do not believe we can afford to discharge any qualified individual who is willing to serve our country.</p></blockquote>
<p>Reid went on to say that “the time has come for the military and civilian leadership of the U.S. government to review DADT and evaluate whether the policy is in the best interests of our country.”</p>
<p>Reid’s appeal to President Obama came just days before the Pentagon’s top publication <em>Joint Force Quarterly</em>, the official paper of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, published a 7-page spread criticizing DADT. <a href="http://www.ndu.edu/inss/Press/jfq_pages/editions/i55/14.pdf" target="_blank">That article, titled “The Efficacy of ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’,”</a> takes Sen. Reid’s evaluation a step further and insists that the time for repeal has come:</p>
<blockquote><p>It is not time for the administration to reexamine the issue; rather it is time for the administration to examine how to implement the repeal of the ban.</p></blockquote>
<p>The article takes on DADT from all angles, and ultimately concludes that the policy “has been costly both in personnel and treasure… [and] ultimately more damaging to the unit cohesion its stated purpose is to preserve.”</p>
<p><a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/01/us/01pentagon.html?_r=2&amp;em">In an article published in <em>The New York Times</em> on Wednesday</a>, reporter Elisabeth Bumiller noted that the article marks an “unusual show of support for allowing gay and lesbian service members to serve openly.”</p>
<p>Bumiller also clarified that while the article “carries no weight as a matter of policy,” it may, however, "signal a shift in the official winds.”</p>
<p>Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Adm. Mike Mullen, reportedly reviewed the piece prior to its publication, but had no comment on the article when asked for his opinion by the<em> Times.</em></p>
</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-pubdate field-type-datetime field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><span class="date-display-single">October 2, 2009</span></div></div></div>
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<li class="field-item even"><a href="/tags/dont-ask-dont-tell-dadt">Don&#039;t Ask Don&#039;t Tell (DADT)</a>, </li>
<li class="field-item odd"><a href="/tags/joint-chiefs-staff">Joint Chiefs of Staff</a>, </li>
<li class="field-item even"><a href="/tags/pentagon">Pentagon</a>, </li>
<li class="field-item odd"><a href="/tags/senator-harry-reid">Senator Harry Reid</a></li>
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Wed, 14 Sep 2011 20:16:56 +0000Seth32356 at http://www.glaad.orghttp://www.glaad.org/2009/10/02/sen-majority-leader-pens-letter-to-president-advocating-repeal-of-dadt-pentagon-publishes-its-own-critique#commentsSenate Votes to Advance Hate Crimes Billhttp://www.glaad.org/2009/07/17/senate-votes-to-advance-hate-crimes-bill
<div class="field field-name-field-blog-featured field-type-file field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"></div></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><p><img class="alignleft size-full wp-image-10832" title="rsz_reidshepard" src="http://glaadblog.org/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/rsz_reidshepard.jpg" alt="rsz_reidshepard" width="260" height="150" /><a href="http://glaadblog.org/2009/07/16/hate-crimes-bill-attached-to-defense-bill-senate-may-vote-this-week/" target="_blank">As GLAAD reported yesterday</a>, the Senate took up the issue of hate crimes this week. Late Thursday night the Senate voted 63-28 to end debate on the Matthew Shepard Hate Crimes Prevention Act, <a href="http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hmxKiiSIsM-k7nX2yECb7kGw1qhwD99G4HBG1">the Associated Press reports</a>. The act was adopted as an amendment to the Department of Defense authorization bill and broadens hate crimes legislation to include sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, and disabilities.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.advocate.com/news_detail_ektid98991.asp" target="_blank"><em>The Advocate </em>reports </a>that President Obama, who supports the Matthew Shepard Act, has threatened to veto the Department of Defense authorization bill because of the $1.75 billion in funding for F-22 fighter jets. White House spokesperson Shin Inouye said:</p>
<blockquote><p>"The President has long supported the hate crimes bill and gave his personal commitment to Judy Shepard that we will enact an inclusive bill. Unfortunately, the President will have to veto the Defense Authorization bill if it includes wasteful spending for additional F-22s… A Presidential veto would not indicate any change in President Obama’s commitment to seeing the hate crimes bill enacted."</p></blockquote>
<p>A Senate aide said that Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid is confident that the legislation will pass. The aide said that the vote on the Matthew Shepard Act was good and that “Senator Reid is hopeful that we can keep this language in the final bill.”</p>
<p>The Department of Defense authorization bill could go up for a vote as early as Monday.</p>
<p>GLAAD will continue to monitor media coverage of the Matthew Shepard Hate Crimes Prevention Act.</p>
</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-pubdate field-type-datetime field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><span class="date-display-single">July 17, 2009</span></div></div></div>
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<div class="field-label">Issues:&nbsp;</div>
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<li class="field-item even"><a href="/issues/news">News</a></li>
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<div class="field field-name-field-tags field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-inline clearfix clearfix">
<div class="field-label">Tags:&nbsp;</div>
<ul class="field-items">
<li class="field-item even"><a href="/tags/hate-crime">Hate Crime</a>, </li>
<li class="field-item odd"><a href="/tags/hate-crime-legislation">Hate Crime Legislation</a>, </li>
<li class="field-item even"><a href="/tags/judy-shepard">Judy Shepard</a>, </li>
<li class="field-item odd"><a href="/tags/matthew-shepard-hate-crimes-act">Matthew Shepard Hate Crimes Act</a>, </li>
<li class="field-item even"><a href="/tags/president-obama">President Obama</a>, </li>
<li class="field-item odd"><a href="/tags/senator-harry-reid">Senator Harry Reid</a></li>
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Wed, 14 Sep 2011 20:16:32 +0000brendan32151 at http://www.glaad.orghttp://www.glaad.org/2009/07/17/senate-votes-to-advance-hate-crimes-bill#commentsHate Crimes Bill Attached to Defense Bill; Senate May Vote This Weekhttp://www.glaad.org/2009/07/16/hate-crimes-bill-attached-to-defense-bill-senate-may-vote-this-week
<div class="field field-name-field-blog-featured field-type-file field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"></div></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><p><a href="http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/07/13/senate-democrats-attach-hate-crimes-law-to-defense-bill/" target="_blank"><em><img class="alignleft size-full wp-image-10804" title="rsz_mattys" src="http://glaadblog.org/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/rsz_mattys1.jpg" alt="rsz_mattys" width="260" height="150" />The New York Times</em> reported</a> early this week that Senate Democrats announced that they had attached the Matthew Shepard Hate Crimes Prevention Act to the annual defense authorization bill. The Matthew Shepard Act broadens federal hate crimes law to protect the victims of attacks that are based on gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, and disabilities.</p>
<p>The Senate approved inclusive hate crimes legislation last year (also attached to defense bill), but it was not reconciled with a similar House passed bill. According to Senator Patrick Leahy (D-VT), who is spearheading the bill, the Matthew Shepard Act has been pending in the Senate for more than a decade. At the request of Senator Jeff Sessions (R-AL) and the Republican Members of the Judiciary Committee, Leahy held hearings on the Shepard Act last month.</p>
<p>The House passed a similar hate crimes bill, H.S. 1913, in April with a vote of 249 to 175. The Senate’s bill is likely to be passed but faces a veto from President Obama. The President supports the Matthew Shepard Act, but has been urging the Senate to remove provisions to purchase seven additional F-22 fighter jets from the defense bill.</p>
<p>On Tuesday, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) spoke out in favor of the Hate Crimes Bill. He was joined by Judy Shepard, mother of Matthew Shepard, who said that anti-LGBT hate crimes are on the rise and passing the bill would show “a great message of respect” to victims of these crimes.</p>
<p>The anti-gay Family Research Council has released a video in which Rep. Mike Pence (R-IN) &amp; Sen. Jim Demint (R-SC) denounced hate crimes protections, making the false (and often repeated) claim that the Matthew Shepard Act would impede religious liberties. </p>
<p><a href="http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hmxKiiSIsM-k7nX2yECb7kGw1qhwD99F2V0G0" target="_blank">The Associated Press reports </a>that U.S. Senators took to the floor to debate the issue on Wednesday, which is said to have its best chances in years because of the current political climate. Senators John McCain (R-AZ) and Harry Reid <a href="http://gay.americablog.com/2009/07/mccain-attacked-hate-crimes-bill.html" target="_blank">got into a brief argument on the Senate floor</a> when McCain said that adding this amendment to the defense bill is an “abuse of power” and called it “extraneous”. Reid asked McCain “where has he been in the past” when the Matthew Shepard Act was attached to the same bill with a Republican President in power.</p>
<p>Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) confronted questions from Senators who reiterated the anti-gay notions of Tony Perkins and Pat Robertson, who say that this bill will somehow stamp on religious liberties<em>. </em>He said that the bill "does not criminalize speech or hateful thoughts. It seeks only to punish violent action that undermines the core values of our nation."<em></em></p>
<p>Senators could vote on this legislation as early as next week. Organizations such as the <a href="http://www.hrcbackstory.org/2009/07/passing-the-hate-crimes-bill-in-90-seconds/" target="_blank">Human Rights Campaign</a>, <a href="http://www.kintera.org/site/c.grLKK1PHLqF/b.5305339/k.8A30/Task_Force_Action_Fund__Senate_to_vote_on_hate_crimes_legislation_as_soon_as_this_Thursday__please_make_the_call_now.htm?msource=hcl09senate1&amp;auid=5071677">National Gay and Lesbian Task Force</a>, and the <a href="http://www.nctequality.org/" target="_blank">National Center for Transgender Equality</a> are urging people to contact their Senators to tell them to pass this important hate crimes bill.</p>
<p>GLAAD will continue to monitor media coverage of the Matthew Shepard Hate Crimes Prevention Act.</p>
</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-pubdate field-type-datetime field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><span class="date-display-single">July 16, 2009</span></div></div></div>
<div class="field field-name-field-issues field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-inline clearfix clearfix">
<div class="field-label">Issues:&nbsp;</div>
<ul class="field-items">
<li class="field-item even"><a href="/issues/news">News</a></li>
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<div class="field field-name-field-tags field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-inline clearfix clearfix">
<div class="field-label">Tags:&nbsp;</div>
<ul class="field-items">
<li class="field-item even"><a href="/tags/hate-crime">Hate Crime</a>, </li>
<li class="field-item odd"><a href="/tags/hate-crime-legislation">Hate Crime Legislation</a>, </li>
<li class="field-item even"><a href="/tags/judy-shepard">Judy Shepard</a>, </li>
<li class="field-item odd"><a href="/tags/matthew-shepard">Matthew Shepard</a>, </li>
<li class="field-item even"><a href="/tags/matthew-shepard-hate-crimes-act">Matthew Shepard Hate Crimes Act</a>, </li>
<li class="field-item odd"><a href="/tags/senator-harry-reid">Senator Harry Reid</a></li>
</ul>
</div>
Wed, 14 Sep 2011 20:16:32 +0000brendan32147 at http://www.glaad.orghttp://www.glaad.org/2009/07/16/hate-crimes-bill-attached-to-defense-bill-senate-may-vote-this-week#comments